CNN —The leader of the Justice Department’s civil rights division, Kristen Clarke, said in an extraordinary personal statement shared with CNN that she was a victim of years-long domestic abuse and chose not to disclose an expunged arrest record from that period during the Senate confirmation process.
“Nearly 2 decades ago, I was subjected to years-long abuse and domestic violence at the hands of my ex-husband,” Clarke wrote in the statement on Wednesday.
“This was a terrorizing and traumatizing period that I have sought to put behind me to promote my personal health, healing and well-being.
“When given the option to speak about such traumatic incidents in my life, I have chosen not to,” Clarke wrote.
Clarke said she has brought her “personal experience and perspective of being a survivor of domestic violence” to her work.
Persons:
Kristen Clarke, “, ” Clarke, Republican Sen, Tom Cotton, Clarke, ” Sen, Mike Lee, ”, CNN’s Devan Cole
Organizations:
CNN, Justice, Republican, The Daily, Utah Republican
Locations:
Utah